Section 5: Search of public registers

5. Search of public registers (1) A person may only search the public registers in accordance with this Act or regulations made under this Act. (2) The public registers may be searched only by reference to the following criteria— (a) the bankruptcy number; (b) the name, or any part of the name of a person; (c) the name of a Court; (d) insolvency status; (e) the date of adjudication or discharge, by reference to a range of dates; (f) any combination of the criteria in paragraphs (a) to (e); (g) any other prescribed criteria. (3) In subsection (2) (d), “insolvency status” means that a person— (a) is currently bankrupt; or (b) is a discharged bankrupt; or (c) is a discharged bankrupt subject to conditions of discharge; or (d) was adjudicated bankrupt but the adjudication was annulled under section 67 (1) (b) or (c). (4) The public registers may be searched— (a) by any individual, or by any person with the consent of that individual, for the purpose of searching for information about that individual; I14 – 255 [Issue 3] Insolvency Act (b) by any person for the purpose of ascertaining whether another person is bankrupt, is a discharged bankrupt, or is currently admitted to the no asset procedure; (c) by any person for any purpose related to the bankruptcy of a person; (d) by any person for the purposes of— (i) facilitating the compliance, audit, and other supporting and administrative functions of the Official Receiver, the Insolvency Service, the Court, or any other person required to be provided under this Act or any other enactment; and (ii) facilitating the enforcement functions and the exercise of the powers of the Official Receiver, the Insolvency Service, the Courts, or any other person required to be excused under this Act or any other enactment.